Paul J. Andrews - a Rapid City, South Dakota (SD) State and Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Rapid City State and Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

State and Federal Criminal Defense 80%
Civil Litigation - Plaintiff 5%
Civil Litigation - Defendant 10%
General Civil Matters - Demand Letters, Evictions, etc. 5%

Litigation: 100%

Attorney Information

Overview

Bringing a diverse background to his practice, Attorney Paul J. Andrews provides criminal defense services for a wide variety of state and federal offenses including drug possession and distribution, sex-related offenses, assault & battery, DUI offenses, burglary and theft, criminal domestic violence, motor vehicle offenses, probation violations, and juvenile delinquency cases. Mr. Andrews also has extensive experience in white-collar criminal defense and has represented individuals and businesses in federal and state courts across the country.

Mr. Andrews has particular experience representing out-of-state drivers who are stopped in South Dakota for minor driving infractions only to have their vehicles searched and marijuana and/or other illegal narcotics discovered. Many times, these searches lack sufficient probable cause and the case can be dismissed. Other times, Mr. Andrews can utilize his extensive experience to negotiate reduced charges and help his clients avoid jail time. If you find yourself in such a situation, contact the Andrews Law Office immediately.

A seasoned civil litigation attorney, Mr. Andrews also has represented individuals and businesses, both as plaintiffs and defendants, in a wide variety of civil litigation matters in federal and state courts throughout the country, including: defamation; civil fraud cases; shareholder lawsuits; civil RICO matters; contract disputes; conversion claims; and negligence.

Reflecting on his nationwide experience, Mr. Andrews also is Of Counsel to the Massachusetts law firms of Neelon & Associates, LLC in Braintree, Massachusetts, and Dhar Law, LLP in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Prior to entering into private practice, Mr. Andrews served for over twelve years with the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division, where he prosecuted a number of white-collar crimes throughout the United States, resulting in convictions of numerous officers and directors of publicly traded corporations and banks, as well as other various white-collar criminals.

Mr. Andrews uses his extensive background and experience to predict how the prosecution may act and appropriately structure the best possible defense for his clients.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts and graduating summa cum laude from Boston College, Mr. Andrews received a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School.

Today, Mr. Andrews is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the U.S. District Court for the Districts of South Dakota, Massachusetts and Colorado, as well as all state courts in South Dakota and Massachusetts.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Paul J. Andrews included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Named to Super Lawyers, 2016-present
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The Office of Inspector General for the FDIC

Other Sources of Feedback About Paul J. Andrews

Included on the 2026 Great Plains Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2024 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2023 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2022 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2021 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2020 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2019 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2018 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2017 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1991
  J.D.
  Law Review: Boston College Law School International and Comparative Law Review, Editor, 1990 - 1991
Non Legal Education
- Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 1988
  B.A.
  Honors: summa cum laude
  Major: Political Science

Current Employment Position(s)

```
Owner/Manager
```

Past Positions

U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division, Trial Attorney, 1992 - 2004

Classes and Seminars

Reed Logic Video Leadership Seminars: Updated Strategies for White Collar Legal Defense, 2007 - 2008

Pro Bono Activities

Access to Justice, 2019 - Present

Representative Cases

Drug Possession Charges Dismissed
Young Adult Diversion Program Placement
Assault and Battery and Robbery Charges - Dismissed
Sexual Assault of Minor Charges - Dismissed
Detention Order Reversed
Aggravated Assault Indictment Dismissed
Motion to Dismiss Reversed on Appeal
$350,000 Jury Settlement

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 2000
U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 2010
South Dakota, 2016
U.S. District Court District of South Dakota
U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. District Court District of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Fraternities and Sororities

Phi Beta Kappa

Be the first to write a review!

There are currently no reviews for Paul J. Andrews. Be the first to share your experience.

Write a Review

Contact

Rapid City, SD

528 Kansas City Street
Suite 5
Rapid City, SD 57701

Directions

Phone: 605-638-9728

Fax: 605-718-4003

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.andrewslawofficellc.com

Hours: Monday - Friday: 08:30 am – 06:00 pm, Nights And Weekends By Appointment

Free Consultations

Disclaimer

Your Profile? Update Now

When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.

How do I choose a lawyer?

Consider the following:

Comfort Level – Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
Credentials – How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
Cost – How are the lawyer's fees structured — hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
City – Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?

Not sure what questions to ask a lawyer?

Here are a few to get you started:

How long have you been in practice?
How many cases like mine have you handled?
How often do you settle cases out of court?
What are your fees and costs?
What are the next steps?

Want to check lawyer discipline?

It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:

Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.

Paul J. Andrews - Rapid City, SD